Shingle machine



N. P. HARSHBERGER May 11 1926.

SHI NGLE MACHINE Filed June 9 1921 Patented May l1, 1926.

UNITED STAT-ES 1,584,095 PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN I. HARSHBERGER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TEE-LOK BEING-LE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLIN 01S,A A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SHINGLE MACHINE.

Application led .Tune 9,- 1921. Serial No. 476,241.

This invention relates to shingle machines and has for its object the production of an improved machine Ifor cutting out shingles or other articles-from strips of material.

Of the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of a shingle which is to be formed by my machine; Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a plan and an elevation of a shingle cutting machine, which embodies the features of my invention, certain parts in eachview being broken away; Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the block cutters.

Although I have herein illustrated a particular type of shingle which is to be formed by my machine, yet it is to be understood that any ordinary type or shape-of shingle may be formed provided the machine is suitably arranged 'and adjusted ,thenefor. Also it should be understood that the use of my invention is not necessarily limited to'the manufacture of shingles, but may be applied .to manufacturing various other articles which are formed similarly to the shingles herein described.

The machine 'for cutting the shingles 3 is mountedon a frame 4, and, in general it consists of a series of knives 5 which are properly arranged, and are mounted upon supporting blocks 6 which are carried by some suitable form of mechanism for moving the blocks forwardly, such as a chain belt'7 passing over suitable wheels 8. vAny suitable driving mechanism maybe used to operate the wheels by means of a pulley 9 or other suitable mechanism. Above the blocks, as they are moved forwardly, is mounted a roller 10, and between the roller and. the blocks the sheet of the material 11 to be made into shingles ispassed, and the cutting is done by the knives 5 mounted on the blocks as the material passes between the roller and the blocks. Each of the blocks is somewhat longer than the strip is wide, and each block is substantially as wide as the individual shingles are long, but the general shape of the blocks is as indicated by Fig. 5 or by the double lines of Fig. 2 which indicate the edges of the blocks. Although it is not material to the present invention, yet this articular type of shingle, and the reasons 0r the special manner of cutting the same, is specifically set forth in `along the outer edges my copending United States patent application Serial No. 453,439,1iled March 18,

1921, and reference may be had to that application for a more complete description ofy the same. In order to cut the shingles as indicated it will be seen that the shingles of the strip are half a shingle forward of the central shingles, so that the knives for cutting a shingle fromeach of the `four rows of shingles may be confined to one block, but the knives for cutting the outer rows of shingles are further forward than are those for cutting the' inner rows. However, obviously, it is necessary to have only one knife 4for cutting between two adjacent shingles, so that I arrange to have thev left hand edge of each block carry the knives for cutting between the adjacent shingles in the same rows.

The blocks are arranged to be transported horizontally with the knives extending upwardly, by means of the chain belt having links 12 to which the blocks .are suitably ,fixed in such a manner as to allow the chains to pass freely around the supporting pulleys. The roller 1 0, which 1s rotatively mounted above the blocks, extends substantially the full length of the blocks. This roller is mounted so that the position thereof with relation to the upper position of the knives may be sensitively adjusted' in any suitable manner. I`prefer to mount the bearings of the roller in .the frame 13 and to maintain the roller in the proper position by means of the adjusting screws 14.

In operation it is usually desirable to maintain the rollerin` such a position that there will be a very slight space between lthe lower surface thereof and the upper edges of the knives ,5. Ordinarily the material used for cutting out the shingles is of such a nature that v1t is unnecessary to cut entirely through the material, a slight .portion bein easily broken by the ordinary manipulatlon of the shingles; but, if necessary, the roller ma be arranged so that its surface will actua y come in contactwith the upper edges of the knives. The knives are composed of thin strips of steel, and

hence, with ordinary shingle material, sharpening of the knives is not ordinarily required.

The material from which the sin les are made comprises a strip 11 of the width indicated in Fig. 2, and of any suitable length. The strip is fed into the machine between the knives and the roller 10, 'and "as soon as the forward end is passed between the roller and the knives, the knives will, by virtue of the driving mechanism, continuously carry the strip forwardly un.- der the roller so that the entire strip will be properly cut into shingles. It will be seen any suitable means may be used. I prefer for the purpcsethe rails 16 and 17. The rails 16 firmly support the/ blocks as they are passing under the roller 10 and the, cutting is taking place' and the rails 17 prevent any undesirable vibrations or other transverse movement of the blocks. Rdilers 18 may be used'to reduce the friction, and they answer the double purpose of carryin the links 12 along the rails and also aroun the wheels 8. A transverse roller 19 is used to support more firmly the .blocks directly under the roller 10; and this provides a suitable support for the central rear portion 20 'of theblocks which are not adequately supported by the rollers 18.

Inasmuch as the shingles when cut are pressed by the cutters between the knives it becomes necessary to provide means for removing the shingles from the blocks. Any suitable means may be used for removing the shingles from the blocks, but I prefer for the purpose to provide upon the forward axle 21, wheels 22. Upon these wheels are fixed certain plungers 23 which are arranged to pass through openings-"24 cut in the blocks as the blocks reach the forward supporting wheel 8. These plungers press the Shingles, or portions thereof, outwardly from the blocks, as the blocks ass around the forward wheel. The Shing es are thus all pushed free from the blocks as they pass along the lower portion of the front support-ing wheels, and are deposited in a pile from whence they may be conveniently re.- moved in any suitable manner. It will of coursebe understood that the arrangement ofthe knives and of the plungers, and the sizes of the supporting wheels' 8, with referenceto the Width, of the blocks, the arrangel ments of the openings through the blocks,

Aand the like, must all beproperly designed for cutting out and removing the shingles.

The strip of material 11 is fed into the machine by any suitable means, Isuch as by the roller 25; and flanges 26 on the roller, and flanges 27 on the roller l0, or other suitable guiding means for the strip, are provided. The direction of movement of the blocks is indicated in' Fig. 3 by the arrow.v

In order to properly adjust the knives and the supporting wheels 8, and to prevent slacking in the link belts, the` bearings 28 of the axle 21 are slidably mounted in the frame 29, and adjustably positioned therein by means of the bolts 30. It is to be understood, however, that modifications may be made in the details of the mechanism herein described by 1those skilled in the art, Without departing fromthe spirit of my invention as disclosedby the following claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A machine for cutting shingles from a relatively fiat sheet of composition roofing material, said machinel comprising a plurality of blocks arranged for movement one in advance of the other, means pivotally connectingv one end of each block with the central portion of the following block, means for movin said blocks forwardly, cutting knives projecting from each of said blocks and adapted to cut through the rooting sheet and arranged to conform to the shape of the shingles to be out, means for forcing the sheet against said knives, and a roller positioned under said supporting means for supporting said blocks.

' 2. A machine for cutting shingles from a relatively iiat strip of composition roofing material, comprising a plurality of connected blocks arranged one in advance of the other, each block carr ing cutting knives projecting from the b ook to cut through the roofing strip and arranged to conform to the sha of the shingles being cut, and a roll for orcing the roofing stri saidknivesfor cutting shingles rom said strip in the-movement of the bloc-ks and roll relatively to each other, knives being alike.

against both sides of said 3. A machine for cutting individual shingles from a relatively Hat strip of composition roofing material, comprlsing a pluralit lof blocks, dividin knives projecting from the blocks to divi e the Strip into a plurality of individual shingles, a roll arran ed above said blocks for forcing the roo ng strip against said knives for dividing the strip into the individual shingles in the movement of said blocks under said roll, and means for moving said blocks, said knives having perpendicular sides and fiat cutting edges.

4. A machine for cutting shingles from a relatively flat strip of composition rooting material, comprising a plurality of blocks, cutting knives projecting from the blocks to cut through the roofing strip, a roll above said blocks for forcing the roofing strip against said knives for cutting individual shingles from said strip in the movement of said blocks under said roll, means for moving said blocks, rollers xed to said blocks vand means for supporting said rollers while passing under said roll.

5. A machine for cutting individual shingies from a relatively flat strip of composition rooting material, comprising a plurality of connected blocks arranged one in advance ot' the other, each block carrying cutting knives projecting from the block to cut through the roofing strip and arranged to conform to the shape of the shingles being cut, the knives on each block being arranged to cut a plurality of shingles from the width Qf the strip with the shingles between those at the sides'of the strip joined together, a roll arranged above said block for forcing the rooting strip against said knives in the movement of the blocks under said roll, and a blade on said roll for severing the strip longitudinally between the joined shingles of each block.

6. A machine for cutting individual shingles from a relatively flat strip of composition roofing material, comprising an endless row of connected blocks, each block carrying cutting knives projecting from the block to cut through the roofing Strip and arranged to conform to the shape of the shingles being cut, a roll above said blocks for forcing the roofin strip against said knives for cutting individual shingles from said strip as the blocks are moved under said roll, means for moving said row of blocks, and means acting from above the blocksI and through slots therein for ejecting the cut shingles therefrom when the shingles are facing downwardly.

7. A machine for cutting shingles from a relatively flat strip of roofing material, comprising an endless row of connected blocks, each block carryino' cutting knives projecting outward from the block and arranged to conform to the shape of the shingles being cut, a roll above said blocks for forcing the roofing strip against the knives in the movement of the blocks under said roll, and rollers on the blocks for supporting the blocks as the are moved under said roll.

8. A machine for cutting out articles from strips of mate-rial, comprising a frame, blocks mounted on said frame and arranged to move in a substantially straight line for a limited distance, a roller extending across and adjacent to the straight-line path of motion of said blocks, knivcs'mounted on' said blocks and projecting towards and substantially to the adjacent ortion-s of the periphery of .said roller as he blocks pass the point nearest to said roller, means for passing strips of material between said roller and said blocks, a pair of guide rails mounted on said frame adjacent said roller but on the opposite side of said blocks and running parallel with vthe straight line path of motion of said blocks, and means iiXe-d tc each of ,said blocks, and arranged to coact with said guide rails, to prevent movement of said blocks away from said roller as said strips are being cut by said knives.

9. A machine for cutting shingles from a sheet of rooting material, Said machine comprising a. supporting frame, an endless chain belt, sprocket, wheels carried at the end of said chain for driving said belt, a plurality of blocks forming links in said chain, each of said blocks being pivoted at one end to the adjacent links and being pivoted to the other adjacent links near the central portion of the block, cutting knives projecting outwardly from each of said blocks for cutting through the said sheet and arranged to conform to the shape of the shingles being cut, and'me-ans act-ing from above the blocks for forcing the cut lshingle out from between the knives.

Intestimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand.

NORMAN P. HARSHBERGER. 

